£446 
MM* 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


AN     ADDRESS 


TO    THE 


MEMBERS  OF   THE   RELIGIOUS   SOCIETY 


O  F 


FRIENDS, 


ON  THE  DUTY  OF  DECLINING  THE  USE  OF 


THE     PRODUCTS    OF     SLAVE     LABOUR, 


BY  CHARLES  MARRIOTT, 


"  The  Lord,  in  the  riches  of  his  goodness,  is  leading  some  into  the  feeling  of  the 
condition  of  this  people,  who  cannot  rest  without  labouring  as  their  advocates  ;  of 
which,  in  some  measure,  I  have  had  experience,  for,  in  the  movings  of  his  love  in  my 
heart,  these  poor  sufferers  have  been  brought  near  to  me." — Extract  from  the  Works 
of  John  Woolman. 


NEW-YORK    : 

ISAAC  T.  HOPPER,  STATIONER, 
386,  Pearl-street. 


1835. 

\ 


MM 


INTRODUCTION. 


UNDER  an  impression  that  on  this  subject,  the  writer  of  this  address  has 
owed  a  debt  to  his  fellow-members  in  religious  profession,  he  feels  de- 
sirous to  discharge  it  in  the  best  manner  he  can. 

As  there  are  those  who  believe  that  the  rise  or  decline  of  our  Society,  is 
intimately  connected  with  the  rise  or  decline  of  this  testimony,  to  these 
it  becomes  a  question  of  very  great  magnitude.  On  the  other  hand,  we 
behold  a  number  of  our  estimable  members,  and  some  who  stand  in  the 
very  front  of  the  society,  who  profess  to  see,  in  the  concern,  nothing  obli- 
gatory on  them,  and  who  treat  its  introduction  into  our  religious  meetings 
as  an  improper  intrusion :  it,  therefore,  becomes  us  to  inquire  from 
whence  arises  this  difference  of  feeling  and  of  conduct? 

Impressions  to  perform  religious  duties,  even  while  .individuals  are 
moving  under  the  same  precious  influence,  may  be  various,  in  order  to 
qualify  the  different  members  to  fulfil  the  various  offices  designed  for  them. 
But  it  appears  reasonable,  to  suppose,  that  the  outward  moral  obligations 
of  justice,  between  man  and  man,  are  equally  binding  upon  all,  since  all 
are  required  to  "do  justly"  and  "love  merry."  "Whence,  then,  proceeds 
this  difference  in  the  conduct  of  good  men,  towards  their  suffering  fellow- 
creatures  ? 

Time  was,  and  the  day  is  not  very  remote,  when  our  ministers  and 
elders  were  themselves  slave-holders,  and  tears,  entreaties,  and  years  of 
labour,  were  insufficient  to  induce  some  of  them  to  relinquish  tlieir  slaves, 
and  yet,  those  individuals  were  deservedly  esteemed  for  their  general 
excellency  of  character.  Here,  we  see  an  evidence  of  the  force  of  custom 
and  tradition,  ink reconciling  the  minds,  even  of  pious  men,  to  things  un- 
doubtedly wrong  in  themselves.  Nevertheless,  John  Woolman  and  some 
others,  even  at  that  day,  saw  still  further,  and,  under  the  humbling  visita- 
tions of  truth,  had  their  understandings  so  enlightened  as  to  behold,  and 
be  enabled  to  display  to  others,  with  convincing  clearness,  the  relation  in 
which  the  purchaser  of  these  unrighteous  gains  stood,  towards  the  oppres- 
sor, and  the  oppressed. 

Let  us,  now,  inquire  what  has  been  the  progress  of  this  testimony  since. 
About  the  close  of  the  labours  of  these  early,  faithful  advocates,  a  band  of 
valiants  were  raised  up,  and  on  perusing  the  memorials  of  deceased  Friends, 
issued  by  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  New-York,  striking  evidence  is  afforded 
of  great  unity  of  views  and  conduct,  in  this  respect.  Almost  all  of  them 
bore  their  testimony  against  the  use  of  those  articles. 

But  a  period  of  outward  prosperity  and  ease  succeeded,  and  while  men 
slept  the  enemy  sowed  tares.  • 

Calls  to  practical  righteousness  were  lost  in  the  louder  alarms  of  un- 
soundnessof  faith  ;4and  while  sailing  on  the  smooth  sea  of  indifference, 
our  whole  body  were  awakened,  only  by  a  storm  that  will  long  be  remem- 
bered ! — an  accusing  spirit  swept  over  our  ocean, — wave  after  wave,  of. 
crimination  and  recrimination,  rolled  onward,  threatening  to  engulf 
every  Christian  virtue.  But  when  dismay  had  seized  the  mariners,  and  the 
most  skilful  could  do  no  more  than  lash  the  helm  of  our  frail  bark  and  let 
her  drive, — trusting  to  the  mercy  of  Heaven  !  It  was  then,  that  He,  whom 
"the  winds  and  the  sea  obey,"  was  once  more  pleased  to  arise  and  rebuke 
"  the  winds  and  the  sea,  and  there  was  a  great  calm." 

Thanksgivings  and  gratitude  are  forever  due  for  our  deliverance ;  shall 
we  not  then,  leaving  all  speculative  doctrines,  bring  forth  fruits  of  practical 
righteousness,  and  returning  again  to  the  tendering  impressions  of  our  first 
love,  remember  the  afflicted  and  those  in  bonds. 

We  are  told,  that  we  are  urging  the  subject  too  fast.  But  while  I  feel  a 
strong  conviction  that  thousands  have  perished,  and  that  thousands  may 


•  483278 . 

ANTHBQ-SOC. 


yet  perish,  the  victims  of  this  cruel  delay,  my  heart  is  too  full  to  reply  to 
the  assertion.  The  responsibility  already  incurred  is  of  oppressive  weight, 
yet,  thanks  be  to  our  Heavenly  Parent,  such,  for  the  last  few  years,  has 
been  the  progress  of  this  blessed  cause,  that  a  short  period  of  united  faith- 
ful labour  would,  now,  in  all  human  probability,  finish  the  work.  And 
while  the  members  of  other  religious  societies  are  earnestly  and  success- 
fully engaged  in  it,  we,  surely,  shall  not  cast  away  our  crown,  and  fold 
our  hands  in  apathy !  Let  us  rather  arise,  and  rejoicing  in  the  evidence 
afforded  that  the  concern  is  rightly  spreading,  and  becoming  increasingly 
dear  to  our  members,  press  onward  to  its  final  consummation. 


The  following  essays  appeared  at   different  times  in  some  periodical 
works,  and  are  now  collected  and  revised,  with  additions. 
The  form  of  numbers  is  preserved  as  tending  to  perspicuity. 

No.  1. 

"  Rebuke  a  wise  man  and  he  will  love  thee,"  was  the  assertion  of  one 
who  was  himself  wise,  and  who  had  doubtless,  in  his  own  experience, 
known  its  truth.  To  be  skilful  in  reproof  is,  however,  of  difficult  acquire- 
ment. To  blame  where  we  love  is  painful,  where  we  do  not,  is  wrong ; 
for  Christianity  sanctions  no  other  spring  of  action.  And  seeing  we  are 
all,  more  or  less,  involved  in  the  evil  we  are  seeking  to  remedy,  this  cir- 
cumstance calls  for  the  exercise  of  the  virtues  of  charity  and  fellow-feeling. 
If  greater  warmth  of  expostulation  be  indulged  in  these  remarks  than 
some  may  approve,  it  was  believed  that  the  case  required  it.  But  I  would 
call  the  reader's  attention,  from  the  manner  of  treating  the  subject,  to  the 
subject  itself, — a  subject  involving  in  its  consequences  perpetuity  of  misery 
to  an  incalculable  amount. 

After  a  long  and  arduous  struggle,  the  cause  of  humanity  has  so  far  pre- 
vailed, that  most  of  the  nations  once  actively  engaged  in  the  trade  to 
Africa  for  slaves,  have  by  law  abolished  that  iniquitous  traffic;  but  suppose 
it  at  an  end,  must  those  who  are  now  in  slavery  find  no  refuge  but  in  the 
grave?  must  their  offspring,  for  ages  yet  to  come,  languish  in  the  same 
hopeless  and  abject  condition  ?  These  are  important  questions. 

Great  are  the  exertions  now  making  on  behalf  of  this  injured  people, 
yet,  in  viewing  the  apparent  apathy,  that  still  too  generally  prevails,  on 
this  subject,  the  benevolent  mind  may  be  ready  to  turn  in  distress  from 
the  dismaying  prospect. 

To  hold  up  this  testimony  to  the  world,  seemed,  in  its  origin,  emphati- 
cally laid  upon  us,  and  our  abandonment  of  it  at  this  day,  would  manifest 
an  unfaithfulness  more  to  be  deplored  than  if  it  affected  ourselves  only. 

The  labours  of  a  Benezet  and  a  Woolman  have  enlightened  thousands, 
and  their  successors  are  called  upon  to  contribute  with  equal  faithfulness, 
toward  finishing  a  work  already  so  successfully  begun. 

It  is  not  by  addressing  those  conflicting  assemblages  of  men  called 
governments  that  we  can  expect  success ;  their  remedy  is  the  sword — 
coercion  excites  to  acorresponding  spirit  of  violence,  and  the  present  alarm- 
ing extent  of  the  trade  to  Africa  for  slaves,  and  the  equally  detestable 
legalized  traffic  on  our  own  coast,  prove  how  little  we  can  expect  from 
such  bodies. 

It  is  rather  by  using  the  armour  of  our  own  Society,— the  patience,  the 
perseverance,  the  unwearied  industry,  that  has  been  so  often  successful ; 
but  above  all,  by  exhibiting  to  the  world  a  steady  uniform  example  of 
equal  justice  to  all  men.  In  doing  this,  it  may  be  necessary  to  submit  to 
some  privations;  but  let  it  be  remembered  that  our  faithful  predecessors 
never  shrunk  from  making  any  sacrifice,  which  the  firm  support  of  our 
religious  testimonies  appeared  to  them  to  require. 


No.  2. 

In  the  epistles  of  our  Society,  frequently  published  to  the  world,  we 
have  clearly  and  unequivocally,  as  a  united  body,  declared  our  abhorrence 
of  slavery.  And  to  show  that  no  specious  pretext  of  good  usage  could 
warrant  such  a  flagrant  violation  of  natural  rights,  our  own  members,  if 
guilty  of  such  violation  would  be  disunited  from  the  Society.  Is  it,  then, 
reconcilable  with  moral  equity,  and  with  our  own  consistency  of  character, 
to  employ  another  to  do  an  act  which  we  ourselves  cannot  conscientiously 
perform?  That  this  is  done  requires  no  other  proof  than  the  undeniable  fact, 
that  many  amongst  us  are  freely  purchasing  articles  obtained  (by  our  own 
declarations)  through  violence  and  injustice, — in  other  words,  such  as  are 
raised  solely  by  the  labour  of  slaves;  for  what,  I  ask,  is  the  negro  purchas- 
ed, for  what  is  he  retained  in  slavery,  but  to  obtain  those  articles? 

It  may  be  said,  that  the  articles  alluded  to  are  so  numerous,  and  in  such 
daily  use,  that  in  seeking  to  extricate  ourselves  we  might  become  entangled 
in  a  labyrinth  of  scruples,  and  be  at  last  unable  to  draw  the  line.  The  case, 
it  is  admitted,  is  not  without  its  difficulties.  The  difficulties,  however,  are 
more  imaginary  than  real,  if  it  can  be  shown  that  our  religious  Society  has 
already  drawn  the  line,  and  in  a  regulation  respecting  one  of  our  own  pecu- 
liar tenets,  every  article  of  which  appears  to  apply  with  still  greater  force  to 
this  subject, — I  allude  to  our  testimony  against  war.  In  war  a  variety  of 
passions  are  strongly  excited,  while  revenge,  a  principle  deeply  rooted  in 
minds  unsubjected  by  the  influence  of  religion,  urges  retaliation  for 
real  or  imaginary  injuries ;  and  the  subsequent  frequent  recurrence  of  acts 
of  mutual  aggression,  seem  to  offer  some  apology  for  robbery  and  murder. 
But,  in  this  case,  there  is  not  even  the  stimulus  of  revenge,  for  it  is  not  pre- 
tended that  the  negroes  have  injured  us.  One  mean,  despicable  passion, 
avarice,  cold-hearted, — but  vulture-eyed  avarice, — seizes  his  unresisting 
prey,  and  devours  for  ages,  insatiable  as  the  grave. 

No.  3. 

We  decline  war  whatever  may  be  its  plea.  We  declare  that  we  cannot 
employ  another  to  act  as  a  warrior  on  our  behalf,  either  by  hiring,  or  by 
purchasing  from  him,  or  others,  articles  obtained  through  violence. 

Here  in  vain  may  the  slave  look  for  equal  justice  at  our  hands. 

The  rich  planter  freights  his  ship  with  the  product  of  human  misery,  and 
sails  for  our  ports.  If  he  arrives  in  safety,  we,  with  a  knowledge  proclaim- 
ed to  all,  that  the  cargo  has  been  obtained  through  grievous  oppression, 
freely  become  purchasers.  If,  on  the  contrary,  he  be  melon  the  ocean  and 
forcibly  dispossessed  of  it,  an  act  which,  with  this  species  of  property, 
would  be  only  retributive  justice,*  we  totally  refuse  to  purchase  the  articles. 
What  can  occasion  this  difference  ?  Is  the  situation  of  the  negro  less  piti- 
able because  he  is  first  bound,  and  then  robbed  with  impunity.  In  the 
one  case,  the  individual  has  the  power  of  resisting,  and  he  sometimes  does 
successfully  resist,  the  spoiler  of  what  he  calls  his  property,  in  the  other  he 
has  none.  It  may  be  said,  the  planter  has  expended  large  sums  on  his  estate, 
and  has,  consequently,  an  equitable  claim  on  a  part  of  the  produce  of  it. 
But  has  not  the  owner  of  the  armed  ship,  likewise,  expended  large  sums  on 
his  vessel  and  its  equipments,  and  with  views,  at  least,  equally  just?  On 
what  ground  can  the  claim  be  admitted  in  one  case  and  rejected  in  the 
other?  Such  part  of  the  vessel's  cargo  as  may  have  been  fairly  purchased, 
and  the  produce  of  such  portion  of  the  planter's  estate  as  may  have  been 
cultivated  by  equitable  contract  \vithfree-men,  are  obviously  on  equal 
ground. 

Ask  the  merchant,  whose  property  has  been  plundered  on  the  high-seas, 
and  he  will  tell  you,  that  he  would  willingly  relinquish  it  for  its  full  value. 
The  negro  too,  would,  doubtless,  for  an  equitable  consideration,  relinquish 

*  Let  no  one  suppose  that  "  retributive  justice  "  is  approved  by  us. 


6 

all  claim  to  the  produce  of  his  toil,  and  a  member  of  our  Society  might, 
perhaps,  in  either  case,  conscientiously  purchase  the  articles,  provided  he 
knew  the  proceeds  would  be  restored  to  the  true  owners ;  but  knowing 
that  they  will  not,  why  does  he  refuse  to  participate  in  one  case  and  not  in 
the  other  ? 

Were  it  possible  that  our  moral  regulations,  so  excellent  and  so  generally 
admired,  were  intended  only  for  the  whites,  a  knowledge  of  the  circum- 
stance would  fill  with  pain  the  hearts  of  many,  who  have  been  accustomed 
to  contemplate  our  Society  and  its  institutions,  with  mingled  emotions  of 
love  and  esteem. 

No.  4. 

To  assert  that  war  and  slavery  are  dissimilar,  and  that  under  the  same 
circumstances  our  conduct  would  be  alike  to  all,  without  regard  to  colour, 
would  be  but  a  poor  subterfuge,  since  no  two  descriptions  of  cases  can  be 
found,  however  they  may  be  allied  in  guilt,  that  are  in  all  respects  parallel. 
But  it  cannot  be  admitted.  Which  of  us  is  prepared  to  say,  that  should 
the  whites  on  any  portion  of  the  globe  be  enslaved  to-morrow,  I  stand 
ready  to  rivet  their  chains,  by  purchasing  henceforth  and  forever  the  pro- 
ceeds of  their  labours. 

It  were  in  vain  to  urge  that  the  earth  is  so  filled  with  oppression,  it 
would  be  impossible  to  avoid  partaking  of  things  that  come  through  im- 
pure channels, — shall  we  do  nothing  because  we  cannot  do  every  thing  ? 

It  would  be  inconsistent  with  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  the  Creator  of 
men,  to  require  impossibilities,  but  when  an  evil  is  placed  before  us,  and 
ability  to  clear  our  hands  in  any  degree  of  it  is  afforded,  it  assuredly  be- 
comes the  duty  of  a  rational,  responsible  being  to  avail  himself  of  the 
privilege. 

Acts  of  injustice  are,  indeed,  too  obvious  in  every  quarter,  but  can  it  be 
right  to  traverse  the  European  or  Asiatic  empires  in  search  of  them,  solely 
with  a  view  to  render  abortive  every  effort  against  this  great  and  lament- 
able evil  ?  What  but  the  clearest  conviction  that  it  exceeded  most  com- 
mon crimes,  could  have  warranted  our  Society  in  thus  singling  it  out  and 
exposing  with  such  energy  its  sinfulness. 

They  knew  that  its  boundaries  were  sufficiently  definable ;  and  that  the 
grounds  they  were  about  to  take,  were  strong  enough  to  withstand  even 
the  insidious  attacks  of  the  keen,  calculating  sophistry  of  avarice  itself. 

And  shall  this  dignified  testimony,  this  evidence  of  correct  moral  feeling, 
so  beautiful,  so  substantial  in  theory,  perish  like  "  the  baseless  fabric  of  a 
vision  "  for  want  of  practical  support  ? 

No.  5. 

To  refuse  participating  in  profits  obtained  through  injustice  is  no  new 
doctrine ;  it  is  believed  by  the  fairest  construction  to  be  an  unlimited  rule 
of  our  Society,  unless  indeed  the  sable  hue  of  the  unhappy  subjects  of  this 
address  excludes  them  from  its  benefit. 

It  is  also  the  language  of  our  most  esteemed  writers,  and  is  sanctioned 
by  that  most  noble  rule  of  moral  equity,  "All  things  whatsoever  ye  would 
that  men  should  do  unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them."  But  observations 
are  sometimes  made  by  our  members  implying  a  doctrine  that  requires  in- 
vestigation: viz.,  that  using  articles  raised  by  slaves  may  be  wrong  for 
some  and  not  for  others.  In  the  performance  of  religious  duties,  there 
may  reasonably  be  a  difference,  as  all  cannot  fill  the  same  places  in  the 
Church. 

But  the  outward  moral  objections  of  justice  between  man  and  man,  are 
immutably  the  same,  and  nothing  but  ignorance  of  their  existence  can 
justify  their  violation.  And  ignorance  in  this  case  cannot  be  pleaded  by 
any  intelligent  member  of  our  Society. 

Our  Epistles  openly  proclaim  the  'turpitude  of  slavery,  and  have  been 
replete  for  years,  with  many  excellent  remarks  on  this  head.  The  facts 


relating  to  it  are  in  the  hands  of  all,  yet  lamentable  to  say,  our  members 
are  still  supporting  the  system.  Alas!  for  what  are  we  sacrificing  that  in- 
valuable birthright,  consistency  of  character,  by  using  these  articles  when 
so  small  a  sacrifice  would  furnish  an  unpolluted  substitute. 

It  may  be  asked  are  the  things  themselves  contaminated  ?  Let  our  con- 
duct respecting  prize  goods  afford  the  answer.  Doubtless  they  were  cre- 
ated good,  and  intended  for  the  use  of  man,  but  let  him  obtain  them  equit- 
ably. 

There  is  one  expedient  by  which  the  use  of  these  articles  might  be  con- 
tinued, and  yet  the  amount  of  suffering  be  greatly  diminished.  Let  those 
who  think  they  cannot  relinquish  them,  send  a  deputation  of  their  mem- 
bers to  purchase  slaves,  raise  sugars,  &c.,  for  the  use  of  Friends  only ;  these 
persons  would  be  responsible,  their  breasts  would  contain  some  portion  of 
the  milk  of  human  kindness,  and  the  poor  blacks  would  no  longer  groan 
under  the  iron  hand  of  despotism.  We  should  then  be  only  supporting 
slavery  in  its  mildest,  instead  of  its  harshest  form.  Should  this  proposition 
be  rejected,  it  remains  for  every  individual  to  add  to  the  sum  of  human, 
misery,  or  diminish  its  amount,  which  it  admits  to  a  demonstration  will  be 
done,  in  exact  proportion  as  the  proffered  bribe  is  accepted  or  refused. 

I  shall  now  address  the  females  of  our  religious  Society. 

No.  6. 

It  is  a  common  observation  that  your  sex  have  an  extensive  influence 
over  the  conduct  of  ours.  It  is  also  a  truth,  though  one  that  man  in  his 
fancied  superiority  may  reluctantly  admit,  that  a  very  large  proportion  of 
all  the  morality  and  piety  that  exist  in  the  world  is  communicated  through 
the  medium  of  your  instructions.  This  woull  not  excite  surprise,  were 
we  to  reflect  that  the  human  mind  during  the  period  when  it  is  most  sus- 
ceptible of  impressions,  and  when  the  impressions  it  receives  are  most  du- 
rable, is  almost  exclusively  under  your  control. 

These  observations  are  general,  but  it  is  believed  they  are  peculiarly  ap- 
plicable to  the  females  of  our  religious  Society,  which  has  seen  and  had 
the  candour  to  admit  the  importance  of  your  station. 

Your  social  and  general  duties  have  been  enlarged,  in  a  degree  unknown 
elsewhere;  and  may  be  still  further  enlarged  until  the  Society  reap  all  the 
advantages  that  they  might  derive  from  your  just  and  equal  co-operation 
in  its  labours. 

You  have  your  deliberative  assemblies — your  stations  in  the  Church — 
your  share  in  public  ministry.  But  among  all  your  duties,  perhaps  there 
is  none  more  important,  none  on  which  the  welfare  of  our  religious  body 
so  emphatically  depends,  as  on  the  education  of  your  children.  Teach 
them  equity :  teach  them  never  to  vary  the  measure  of  justice  due  to  their 
fellow-creatures  by  the  colour  of  their  skin. 

For  when  once  their  tender  and  affectionate  hearts  become  hardened 
through  the  continual  temptations  placed  before  them  from  early  infancy, 
to  gratify  themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  happiness  of  others,  experience 
has  proved  that  it  will  require  "  something  like  a  miracle,"  to  induce  them 
to  forego  indulgences  that  have  become  so  habitual.  Your  companions 
have  many  things  to  engage  their  attention,  and,  in  the  multiplicity  of  bu- 
siness, "the  still  small  voice"  is  not  always  heard.  In  grasping  after 
wealth,  its  touch  like  the  touch  of  the  torpedo,  benumbs  the  finest  feelings 
of  the  soul. 

The  domestic  economy  of  your  household  depends  chiefly  on  you,  and 
there  are  numbers  among  you,  who  have  long  refused  to  participate  in  the 
gain  of  oppression.  Your  example  is  exceedingly  important.  Think  on 
the  distressed  situation  of  unprotected  females — on  the  sufferings  of  infan- 
cy.* Reflect  that  the  course  you  pursue,  may  involve  in  its  consequences 

*  The  following  advertisement  now  lies  before  me.  "  For  sale  a  valuable  negro  woman 
with  or  without,  a  child  six  months  old." 


8 

the  happiness  of  thousands.    I  appeal  to  you  in  their  behalf,  shall  I  appeal 
in  vain? 

No.  7. 

To  point  out  an  error  with  a  view  to  promote  improvement  is  no  incon- 
siderable proof  of  friendship. 

I  shall  therefore  make  no  apology  for  these  essays,  though  implicating  in 
some  degree  of  censure  many  estimable  members  of  our  Society.  Many 
of  us  have  looked  towards  these  for  correct  example  on  this  question,  and 
have  looked  in  vain.  Had  all  the  pillars  of  our  Chu.ch  suffered  the  great 
Architect  fully  to  remove  the  rubbish  of  custom  and  prejudice,  and  place 
their  foundations  on  the  same  rock  of  immutable  justice  with  those  upright 
columns,  Benezet  and  Woolman,  there  are  those  who  believe  that  long  be- 
fore this  time  not  a  slave  would  have  existed  on  the  American  continent, 
and  that  the  situation  of  the  wretched  sufferers  in  other  parts  of  the  world 
would  have  been  greatly  meliorated.  If  this  belief  be  well  founded,  mark 
the  awful  responsibility !  For  want  of  greater  faithfulness  it  seems  now, 
as  if  this  continent  will  soon  be  the  last  strong-hold  of  slavery  in  the  ci- 
vilized world. 

A  few  have  supported  with  dignified  firmness  the  cause  of  universal 
equity.  But  "your  fathers  where  are  they,"  and  "the  prophets,  do  they 
live  forever?"  These  have  borne  their  load  of  sorrow;  they  have  eaten 
also  their  manna ;  and  they  are  gone — but  where,  oh,  where  are  the  fruits 
of  their  labour? 

Now  and  then,  after  long  intervals  of  silence,  a  solitary  individual  may 
raise  his  voice  "for  the  Dumb"  "appointed  to  destruction;"  but  to  make 
our  testimony  extensively  availing,  our  members  must  more  generally,  and 
as  far  as  practicable,  clear  their  own  hands  from  supporting  the  system. 
How  far  it  may  be  practicable  to  go,  beyond  the  line  which  it  has  been 
shewn  we  ourselves  have  drawn,  in  theory,  in  our  discip.ine,  is  a  question 
on  which  there  may  be  some  diversity  of  sentiment.  The  subject  is  before 
us,  let  us  examine  it  fairly,  ever  retaining  in  remembrance  that  when  placed 
as  judges  in  our  own  case,  to  be  able  to  decide  equitably,  requires  great 
uprightness. 

JVo.  8. 

Were  a  person  to  tell  us  that  he  had  long  been  in  the  habit  of  purchas- 
ing goods  dishonestly  obtained — that  his  character  did  not  suffer  because 
his  neighbours  did  the  like — and  that  he  should  not  discontinue  the  prac- 
tice until  he  found  it  to  be  his  duty ;  should  he  also  profess  to  be  a  reli- 
gious character  and  exclaim  against  the  villainy  of  the  robber,  would  it  not 
afford  a  striking  evidence  either  of  mental  blindness,  or  of  the  deep  dupli- 
city of  the  human  heart?  Should  we  be  disposed  to  condemn  this  indi- 
vidual, it  might  be  well  for  us  to  reflect  on  the  language  of  the  Prophet 
Nathan  to  David  on  a  certain  occasion. 

"A  man  does  not  think  that  he  has  no  share  in  some  public  charity  be- 
cause he  is  but  one  in  ten  thousand  that  contributes  towards  it ;  but  if  it 
be  a  religious  charity,  and  attended  with  great  and  happy  effects,  his  con- 
science tells  him  that  he  is  a  sharer  of  all  that  great  good  to  which  he  con- 
tributed. Now  let  this  teach  us  how  we  ought  to  judge  of  the  guilt  of  en- 
couraging any  thing  that  is  had,  either  with  our  consent,  our  money,  or  our 
presence;  we  must  not  consider  how  much  our  single  part  contributes  to- 
wards it;  how  much  less  we  contribute  than  several  thousands  of  other 
people,  nor  that  the  work  could  go  forwards  if  we  did  not  at  all  contribute 
toil,  but  we  must  look  at  the  whole  thing  in  itself,  and  whatever  there  is  of 
evil  in  it,  or  whatever  evil  arises  from  it,  we  must  charge  ourselves  with  a 
share  of  the  whole  guilt  of  so  great  an  evil." — Law  on  stage  entertain- 
ments. 

The  aptness  of  this  quotation  to  the  point  in  hand  will  excuse  its  length. 

It  is  sometimes  said  that  the  remedy  is  not  in  the  hand  of  man  j  that  the 


9 

Almighty  only  can  remove  the  evil.  The  danger  of  this  sentiment,  as 
manifestly  tending  to  the  rejection  of  the  very  means  offered  by  Providence 
for  its  removal :  its  danger  also  in  relieving  man  from  a  due  sense  of  re- 
sponsibility for  his  conduct,  and  in  inducing  him  to  charge  his  very  crimes 
on  his  Creator,  is  too  apparent  to  require  much  examination.  It  is  abun- 
dantly refuted  by  our  views  of  the  Millenium.  Is  it  not  enough  that  the 
mind  becomes  enlightened— the  will  subjected — and  the  difficulties  in  the 
path  of  duty  surmounted  in  proportion  as  the  heart  yields  in  simple  obedi" 
ence  to  the  manifestations  of  Divine  Grace?  Shall  we.  rather  than  submit 
to  the  benevolent  laws  of  our  Maker,  which  after  offering  their  guidance, 
leave  us  free  to  act,  with  the  restriction  of  accountability,  call  upon  Him 
with  daring  impiety,  to  compel  us  to  be  virtuous  ? 

No.  9. 

It  may  be  proper  to  examine  further  the  comparative  difficulties  attend- 
ing the  two  subjects,  war  and  slavery. 

War,  like  the  mountain  torrent,  rushing  with  impetuous  force,  may  deso- 
late the  labours  of  the  husbandman,  but  its  ravages  are  soon  over,  and  to 
survivors,  admit  in  some  degree  of  repair;  while  slavery,  like  the  stagnant 
and  putrid  pool,  unremittingly  breathes  pestilence  and  death  on  all  around. 
In  promoting  the  objects  of  the  one,  we  refuse  all  active  compliance,  either 
by  performing  military  duty,  hiring  substitutes,  or  by  purchasing  articles 
taken  forcibly  from  the  rightful  owners.  Thus  far,  can  there  be  a  doubt  of 
it,  the  rule  is  equally  applicable  to  both.  There  are  taxes,  a  part,  if  not  the 
whole  of  which,  are  applied  to  military  purposes,  and  in  time  of  war,  large 
quantities  of  foreign  goods  are  captured,  and  when  exposed  for  sale,  it  is 
often  difficult  to  ascertain  their  real  character.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are 
also  articles  of  doubtful  origin,  it  cannot  be  clearly  ascertained  whether 
they  are  raised  by  freemen,  or  by  slaves.  Why  are  not  these  treated  alike? 
If  we  find  no  insuperable  difficulties  in  the  former,  why  create  any  in  the 
latter?  In  the  latter  too,  the  difficulties  are  less,  as  the  articles  raised  by 
slaves  are  generally  of  a  character  less  likely  to  be  mistaken.  The  per- 
suasion in  our  own  minds  on  the  evidence  before  us,  as  to  their  true  cha- 
racter, will  constitute,  in  either  case,  our  guilt  orinnocency  in  purchasing. 

The  unwearied  benevolence,  so  often  conspicuously  manifested  in  our 
Society,  makes  it  impossible  to  attribute  the  fact  of  our  possessing  one  rule 
for  white  men,  and  another  for  negroes,  to  any  thing  but  custom — blind,  un- 
feeling custom.  To  examine  the  slow  progress  of  light  on  the  human  in- 
tellect, would,  in  this  case,  be  an  interesting  and  affecting  investigation. 
The  ardent  and  enterprising  minds  of  our  predecessors,  broke  asunder  some 
of  the  iron  fetters  of  education  and  habit;  yet  such  was  their  united 
strength,  even  in  the  days  of  Woolman,  that  it  was  not  until  after  a  long 
period  of  arduous  labour,  that  our  own  members  could  be  induced  to  Jibe- 
rate  their  slaves — the  number,  prior  to  that  day,  who  disapproved  the  prac- 
tice of  slave-keeping,  was  undoubtedly  less  than  the  number  of  those  who 
are  now  convinced  of  the  inconsistency  of  our  consuming  the  fruits  of 
their  unrewarded  toil.  Indeed  I  c;mnot  believe  that  there  is  a  srngte  intel- 
ligent, well-informed  member  of  our  Society,  whatever  may  be  his  prac- 
tice, who  is  not  convinced  of  the  inconsistency  of  our  continuing  to  use 
those  articles. 

From  th*>  events  that  have  taken,  and  are  taking  place  in  the  world, 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  is  the  will  of  the  Most  High  ! — the  unal- 
terable decree  of  Heaven,  that  this  people  shall  be  free!  But  it  remains 
to  be  seen  whether  this  can  be  effected  by  the  mild  and  beneficent  spirit  of 
the  gospel,  or  whether  it  will  require  that  the  dark  and  vengeful  passions 
of  the  human  breast,  he  let  loose  to  scourge  the  wickedness  of  man  !  Al- 
ready has  the  storm  of  vengeance  swept  away  the  white  population  of  Qne 
Island.  Other  clouds  are  gathering,  and  it  may  require  but  a  few  more 
hecatombs  of  human  victims,  to  cause  them  again  to  burst  with  overwhelm- 
ing fury.  The  recurrence  of  scenes  like  these  must  be  deeply  deprecated 


10 

by  us;  but  with  what  confidence  can  we  plead  with  the  slave-holder  to 
avert  impending  destruction,  when  he  tells  us,  that  he  is  virtually  our 
agent;  that  we  are  in  fact  deriving  greater  benefit  from  the  system  than 
himself,  because  we  are  partaking  its  advantages,  without  sharing  the 
dreadful  perils  that  continually  surround  him. 

No.  10. 

Could  I  "  delineate  the  dark  and  melancholy  features  of  negro  slavery," 
the  strong  arm  of  oppression  compelling  the  reluctant  sufferer  to  drink  the 
bitterest  draught  of  complicated  misery,  it  would  form  indeed  a  part,  but 
a  part  only,  of  the  mournful  picture. 

There  are  other  traits,  that,  in  the  view  of  a  religious  Society  like  ours, 
are  of  infinitely  greater  importance. 

The  victim  of  oppression,  after  a  few  short  years,  effects  his  escape ;  he 
cannot  be  pursued  beyond  the  grave.  And  had  the  evil  we  deplore  been 
more  limited  in  its  effects ;  had  there  been  none  to  follow  us,  and  no  here- 
after, I  might  have  silently  sunk  into  the  grave  with  the  present  generation 
of  men,  in  the  hope,  that  the  mantle  of  oblivion  would  soon  have  been  per- 
mitted to  cover  man,  and  his  crimes  forever. 

But  if,  to  this  fugitive  state  of  being,  the  enlightened  mind  cannot  be 
confined,  what  then  is  the  situation  of  those,  who,  by  trampling  on  the 
clearest  injunctions  of  the  gospel,  reject  all  participation  in  its  promises? — 
Compelled  to  hide  even  from  themselves,  if  it  were  possible,  the  state  of 
apprehension  and  alarm  in  which  they  live?  To  see  these  too  thought- 
less, too  cruel  men,  descend  from  age  to  age  in  continual  succession  to  a 
state  of  final  retribution,  is  surely  an  awful  prospect. 

Nor  do  the  visitations  of  Divine  displeasure  wait  till  we  enter  another 
state  of  being.  No  man  can  oppress  his  brother  without  admitting  into  his 
own  breast  a  host  of  malignant  passions  that  torment  him  from  day  to 
day,  and  wreck  his  peace. 

Our  religious  Society  may  contain,  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  nearly 
two  hundred  thousand  individuals;  let  us  then  reflect  for  a  moment  on  the 
number  of  human  beings  who  are  toiling,  from  year  to  year,  in  the  degrad- 
ed condition  of  slaves,  to  supply  with  articles  of  luxury  us  only,  and  we 
may  form  some  idea  how  far  we  are  supporting  a  system  in  all  its  parts, 
so  fraught  with  misery;  and  what  are  the  objections  to  the  step  proposed  ? 
In  the  liberation  of  our  slaves,  such  was  the  wickedness  of  the  laws,  that 
some  of  them  were  seized  and  sold  to  masters  far  more  cruel.  In  our 
testimony  against  war,  we  have  to  disregard  or  transgress  the  laws  of  our 
country;  but  here  means  are  put  into  our  hands  that  can  injure  no  one, — 
violates  no  law — and  over  which  others  can  have  no  control,  as  if  they 
were  purposely  afforded  to  test  the  sincerity  of  our  declarations. 

Let  us  remit,  then,  to  the  miserable  sufferers,  such  portion  of  the  residue 
of  their  toil  as  it  is  yet  in  our  power  to  do.  What  evil,  I  again  ask,  can 
arise  from  it?  If  it  should  be  said  that  in  confining  ourselves  to  articles 
raised  by  freemen,  the  supply  would  be  inadequate  and  the  price  enhanced. 

The  latter  objection  would  quickly  operate  to  remove  the  former,  but 
surely  neither  of  them  can  have  weight  with  a  moral  and  religious  people. 
It  ought  not  to  excite  surprise  if  articles  dishonestly  obtained  should  be 
offered  at  lower  rates  than  those  that  were  not.* 

*  It  maybe  said  that  purchasing  articles  raised  by  freemen  is  only  taking  so  much  from  the 
market,  and  that  consequently  others  would  be  confined  to  those  raised  by  slaves,  without 
diminishing  the  evil.  It  is  only  necessary  to  examine  this  argument,  and  indeed  almost  every 
other,  as  they  would  bear  on  prize  goods,  to  prove  their  fallacy.  What  has  man  to  do  witn 
consequences  ?  His  business  is  with  the  justice  of  his  actions — though  nothing  can  scarcely 
be  moie  obvious  than  the  good  effects  of  this  step,  in  every  point  of  view,  both  as  respects 
himself  and  all  those  on  whom  it  would  silently  but  powerfully  operate.  In  taking  an  ex- 
panded view  of  things,  it  appears  impossible  that  any  real  evil  can  ever  flow  from  actions 
truly  upiight. 


11 

If  the  blessed  consequences  I  have  anticipated  from  the  influence  of  our 
correct  example  have  been  overrated,  that  influence  would  nevertheless  be 
great ;  but  should  it,  as  in  our  testimony  against  war,  be  apparently  small, 
it  would  surely  be  no  inconsiderable  source  of  consolation  to  be  able  to  re- 
flect that  we  had  cleared  our  own  hands,  as  far  as  practicable,  of  so  griev- 
ous an  oppression. 

No  II. 

Closing  address  to  the  youth,  $c. 

My  dear  Friends, — "While,  perhaps,  beneath  a  garb  little  in  accordance 
with  the  simplicity  that  would  tend  most  to  human  happiness,  some  of 
you,  I  am  persuaded,  retain  a  sensibility  of  heart  favourable  to  the  growth 
of  every  virtue ;  and  although  as  a  constituent  part  of  the  Society,  you 
have  already  been  addressed,  yet  a  conviction  that  on  the  youth  it  prin- 
cipally rests  as  instruments  to  remove  the  evil  pointed  out,  has  induced  this 
additional  appeal. 

In  the  unsuspecting  confidence  of  childhood  every  act  of  our  parents  is 
viewed  as  unquestionably  right;  but  a  time  arrives  when  it  becomes  our 
duty,  as  rational  responsible  beings,  to  investigate  for  ourselves, — a  time 
when  it  is  necessary  to  be  on  our  guard  against  the  example,  even  of  virtu- 
ous men.  For,  if  the  pious  and  enlightened  Fenelon  and  Guion  bowed 
down  to  images — if  your  own  excellent  predecessors  were  themselves 
slave-holders,  can  you  at  this  day  with  your  present  light,  innocently  fol- 
low their  example? 

Your  parents,  your  elder  brethren  and  sisters  have  obstacles  to  over- 
come, to  which  you  are  in  great  measure  strangers.  Habits  in  which  they 
are  deeply  involved  have  gained  less  root  in  you,  habits,  which  if  once  in- 
•corporated  into  your  common  course  of  action,  may  cease  to  be  regarded, 
or  struggled  against  in  vain. 

In  the  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption,  as  laid  down  by  our  great  pattern, 
immediately  preparatory  to  the  injunction  "learn  to  do  well,"  are  these 
equally  emphatic  words,  "cease  to  do  evil,"  mark  well  the  gradation! 
"  cease  to  do  evil,"  is  the  first  command,  and  is  there  an  individual  among 
you  who  does  not  feel  that  it  is  an  evil  that  slaves  should  toil  for  him?  or 
one,  who,  while  consuming  the  produce  of  their  unrewarded  labour,  is  not 
conscious  that  they  are  so  toiling,  and  that  it  is  in  his  power,  in  some  de- 
gree, to  lessen  the  evil?  But  when  the  understanding  is  convinced,  oh ! 
how  difficult  it  often  is  to  rectify  the  conduct!  We  may  assent  to  truths 
that  carry  conviction  with  them,  nevertheless,  while  the  will  refuses  sub- 
mission to  the  manifestations  of  progressive  light,  the  fruits  of  our  actions 
will  continue  to  be,  disorder,  oppression,  and  misery.  You  are  called  with 
a  high  and  holy  culling  to  glory  and  to  honour;  but  remember  the  path  to 
those  dignified  attainments  is  through  suffering,  where  there  is  dross  and 
impurity,  (and  who  has  escaped  them?)  the  necessity  of  submitting  to  Him 
who  sitteth  as  a  "refiner  with  fire''  and  "a  fuller  with  soap"  is  obvious. 

Shrink  not  from  the  purifying  operation,  however  painful,  for  if  the 
minis)  ration  of  condemnation  be  not  without  its  glory,  how  much  more  glo- 
rious the  ministration  of  justification.  If  the  seasons  of  unmixed  felicity, 
while  here,  be  short  and  distant,  this  life  may  be  less  a  stale  of  happiness 
than  of  'preparation  for  it.  And  what  comparison  will  the  brevity  of  the 
one  bear  to  the  endless  duration  of  the  other? — We  may  remember  also, 
that  the  sum  of  human  sorrow  is  ever  lessened  by  obedience  to  the  disco- 
veries of  divine  grace;  and  that  without  such  obedience,  no  real  happiness 
can  be  enjoyed.  Vital  religion,  while  it  calls  upon  us  to  share  in  the  dis- 
tresses of  others,  affords  the  sweetest  cordial  to  relieve  our  own,  and,  while 
it  adds  tenderness,  it  adds,  also,  stability  and  firmness  to  the  character. 

"In  the  bloom  of  youth  no  ornament  is  so  lovely  as  that  of  virtue"  was 
the  language  of  our  excellent  Woolman,  a  man  whose  feet  were  early 
"  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel ;"  whose  rule  of  life  was  the  law 
of  love  from  whence  springs  every  virtue,  and  the  effect  of  whose  labours, 

3 


12 

as  a  faithful  instrument  in  the  Divine  hand,  will  he  felt  by  thousands  yet 
unborn.  Cherish,  as  he  cherished,  a  capacity  to  "  weep  with  those  that 
weep,"  and  you  will  find  that  true  tenderness  is  a  plant  of  immortal  ori- 
gin, rising,  as  duly  cherished,  in  strength,  and  in  beauty  !  Happy  !  thrice 
happy,  are  all  those  who  repose  beneath  its  shadow. 

In  inserting  the  following  extracts  from  letters  addressed  some  years 
since  to  an  esteemed  minister  of  our  Society,  it  may  be  proper  to  preface 
them  with  a  few  general  remarks,  several  of  which  do  not  apply  to  that 
individual,  whom  I  have  ever  believed  to  be  a  sincere  and  valuable  advo- 
cate of  this  oppressed  people. 

Many,  and  deep,  are  the  baptisms  that  this  portion  of  society  undergo, 
not  only  on  their  own  account,  but  to  enable  them  to  sympathize  with,  and 
aid  others,  under  their  various  trials. 

That  these  should  be  preserved  in  purity,  and  their  lights  shining,  is 
very  important,  and  it  is  pleasing  to  see  how  many  of  this  class,  have  been 
upright  and  successful  labourers  in  this  cause.  And  as  plainness  of  speech 
seems  an  essential  requisite  in  a  Gospel  minister,  he  is  entitled  to  receive 
in  return,  wherever  it  may  appear  necessary,  a  like  measure  of  sincere 
and  earnest  expostulation. 

It  seems  then,  that  some  of  this  description,  after  having  been  fully  con- 
vinced of  the  rectitude  of  this  testimony:  after  having  seen  clearly  that 
such  as  freely  purchased  and  used  slave-grown  produce,  were  strengthen- 
ing the  hands  of  the  oppressor,  and  participating  in  his  guilt;  and  after 
having  conformed  to  these  convictions,  both  by  example  and  precept, — 
have  from  some  cause,  relaxed  their  concern,  and  returned  to  its  use,  and 
being  joined  by  some  who  profess  never  to  have  felt  any  thing  upon  the 
subject;  not  content  with  their  present  indifference,  or  dereliction  of  duty, 
are  now  the  greatest  opposers  of  the  concern,  and  wherever  it  is  revived  in 
our  religious  meetings,  seek  to  check  its  progress  and  paralize  the  effect. 

I  have  mourned  under  a  conviction  that  this  line  of  conduct  has  tended 
to  retard  the  advancement  of  this  righteous  testimony  in  our  Society, 
more  than  all  other  causes  combined,  and  that  it  has  weakened,  and  if 
persisted  in,  will  continue  to  weaken  and  lay  waste  the  services  of  these 
individuals.  If  they  cannot  aid  in  this  good  work,  why  do  they  not  suffer 
it  to  go  on  without  them,  and  be  content  to  follow  on,  as  they  will  eventually 
have  to  do,  at  whatever  distance  they  themselves  may  choose ;  for  they 
may  rest  assured,  that  the  concern  is  gaining  ground  in  the  Society,  be- 
yond what  they  are  willing  to  believe,  and  that  it  will  progress  in  propor- 
tion as  there  is  a  yielding  to  the  tendering  impressions  of  Divine  good. 

We  are  told  that  we  shall  have  no  reward  for  attempting  to  do  good  in 
our  own  wills  ;  and  it  is  at  once  assumed  that  those  who  are  labouring  in 
this  cause,  are  so  doing.  Would  it  not  be  as  charitable,  and  more  useful 
to  inquire  what  our  reward  will  be,  for  persisting  to  do  evil  in  our  own 
will*.  And,  whether,  when  our  understandings  are  convinced,  if  it  be  not 
presumptuous  to  ask  a  further  extension  of  Divine  revelation,  ere  we  con- 
sent to  cease  to  oppress  our  fellow-creatures.  What  is  morally  wrong  can 
never  be  religiously  right.* 

Extracts  from  letters  from  C.  M.  to invited  by  a  communication 

from  the  latter  calling  in  question  the  propriety  of  a  sentiment  advanced 
by  the  former— that  had  the  Society  of  Friends  kept  faithful  to  their 
original  concern  against  slavery,Jthere  would  have  been,  by  this  time,  an 
article  of  Discipline  against  the  use  of  the  products  of  slave  labour. 

LETTER    I. 

5th  Mo.  4th,  1824. 

Beloved  Friend.— To  the  first  half  of  thy  letter  I  can  very  cordially  sub- 
scribe, knowing,  by  some  degree  of  humbling  experience,  that  human  rea- 

It  may  be  well  for  those  who  are  not  prepared  now  to  move  forward  in  this  cause,  to 
;nect,  that  two  hundred  persons  are  added  daily  to  the  number  of  slaves  in  these  United 
States  and  can  we  expect  that  this  fearfully  progressive  accumulation  of  crime,  will  ever 
bring  "  a  more  convenient  season." 


13 

son,  unenlightened,  and  undirected,  by  that  which  is  indeed  light,  i9 
wholly  insufficient  either  to  guide  our  own  steps  aright,  or  to  point  out  the 
path  of  peace  to  others ;  yet,  while  wandering  far  and  wide  in  error, 
human  acts  are  not  all  indifferent  alike,  since  those  that  are  immoral  or 
dishonest  in  themselves,  tend  powerfully  to  obscure  and  prevent  the  arising 
of  that  which  alone  is  the  true  light  of  men.  Hence,  the  necessity  of  Dis- 
cipline, made  in  the  light,  of  truth,  though  not  wanted  for  its  faithful  fol- 
lowers :  the^e  have  no  guide  but  one,  because  they  know  that  none  but  one 
could  possibly  have  raised  them  out  of  the  pit  into  which  they  had  fallen. 

But  while  the  work  of  the  new  creation  is  effected,  "  day  after  day," 
various  causes  may  have  prevented  him  who  has  seen  and  rejoiced  in 
many  of  those  days,  from  beholding  with  clearness  what  is  obvious  to 
another  in  his  earliest  religious  infancy.  How  can  we  otherwise  account 
for  the  fact,  that  our  worthy  ancients,  bright  and  shining  instruments, 
should  so  long  have  bought  and  sold,  and  kept  in  bondage,  their  fellow- 
creatures.  And  when  the  stripling  Woolman  proposed  shackling  them 
with  "yokes  of  bondage,"  how  did  their  feelings  revolt  from  his  implied 
charge  of  injustice  against  them.  Had  they  not  learned  obedience  from  the 
things  that  "  t'jey  had  suffered  in  the  school  of  Christ!"  Having  been 
melted,  refined,  and  set  free  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death  !  Here  we 
may  see  with  admiration  and  gratitude,  the  infinite  compassion  and  tender 
dealing  of  Him  with  whom  we  have  to  do ;  in  thus  leading  and  blessing 
(so  far  as  they  were  prepared,)  those  who  were  entangled  in  tilings  mani- 
festly wrong  and  unjust.  "When  we  love  one  another  we  feel  that  we  can 
use  great  freedom ;  allow  me  then  to  say,  that  thy  arguments  appeared  to 
me  to  be  just  such  as  the  before-mentioned  Friends  used  against  John 
Woolman  ;  together  with  others  more  powerful  in  their  favour,  for  it  is 
doubtful  whether  our  conduct  is  not  in  some  respects  more  inexcusable  than 
theirs.  They  knew  that  their  slaves  were  tenderly  treated,  comparatively, 
and  if  liberated  were  likely  to  be  seized  and  sold  to  worse  masters.  They 
were  also  in  the  way  of  receiving  civil  and  religious  instruction,  whereas, 
the  thousands  who  are  now  toiling  for  us,  obtain  no  assistance  from  us  in 
those  respects. 

I  note  thy  remarks.  "  Those  who  walk  by  faith  are  not,  in  the  nature  of 
things,  bound  by  any  human  law  :  this  is  as  clear  to  my  mind,  as  it  is  that 
no  inferior  law  can  possibly  judge  the  law  of  God,  or  bind  the  soul  that 
has  purchased  its  freedom  by  fulfilling  the  perfect  law  of  liberty." 

However  great  these  truths,  can  the  perfect  law  of  liberty,  sanction  a 
clearly  known  and  acknowledged  oppression  of  our  fellow-creatures?  Oh  t 
my  friend  !  if  thy  heart  has  felt  deeply  for  this  people,  and  I  know  it  has, 
examine  once  more,  what  it  is  that  so  shackles  thee, — so  shackles  thou- 
sands, from  pleading  their  cause  !  Poor,  inconsistent  creatures  that  we 
are  !  behold  us,  reprobating  a  system  in  words,  but  supporting  it  in  acts 
Proclaiming  its  injustice  in  the  authority  of  truth,  (when  truth  can  rise 
into  dominion,)  and  then  hanging  our  heads  in  a  deeply  weakening  sense 
of  our  own  participation  in  its  support !  Shall  we  never  shake  our  hands 
from  holding  of  bribes? 

How  powerful  is  custom  in  closing  our  ears  and  eyes  from  perceiving 
what  we  do  not  wish  to  perceive,  and  what  we  should  otherwise  at  once 
behold  in  its  true  colours.  Indeed,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  believe  that 
there  can  be  one  Friend,  of  commo  :  understanding,  who  does  not  know 
that  it  is  wrong  that  slaves  should  toil  for  him. 

But  the  enemy  of  human  happiness  steps  in,  and  although  he  cannot  per- 
suade us  that  we  are  doing  right,  he  reasons,  and  reasons  almost  <  Mutu- 
ally, to  stifle  our  convictions ;  suppressed  and  smothered  as  they  have  long 
been  by  habit.  Point  out  the  difficulties  attending  a  different  line  of  con- 
duct, and  by  a  strange,  yet  successful  piece  of  sophistry,  persuading  us, 
that  it  would  be  wrong  for  us  to  cease  to  oppress  our  fellow-creatures, 
until  loudly  called  upon  by  convictions  that  we  had  habitually  trodden 
under  foot.  He  does  not  tell  us  to  go  to  the  theatre,  and  pay  our  money 


14 

for  the  support  of  actors,  while  we  blame  the  whole  establishment  as  a 
school  of  vice  !  He  does  not  tell  us  to  purchase  articles  captured  in  war, 
and  yet  declare  that  war  is  anti  Christian. 

But  he  tells  us  to  advance  our  money  to  support  another  in  acts  we  un- 
equivocally condemn,  and  should  disown  our  own  members  for  doing.  He 
says  that  to  withdraw  our  support  would  be  a  species  of  coercion,  and 
would  not  be  the  right  way  to  remove  the  evil ;  and  when  the  understand- 
ings of  any  are  opened  in  the  light  of  truth,  to  see  and  expose  these  delu- 
sions, we  hear  him  reasoning  most  loudly  against  the  use  of  reason. 

It  is  not  in  my  power  to  convey  here  the  sorrowful  sense  I  have  of  the 
loss  the  Society,  and  many  of  its  ornaments  have  sustained,  for  want  of 
the  latter  bringing  their  conduct,  in  this  respect,  to  the  true  touch-stone, 
of  doing  to  others  as  we  would  that  they  should  do  unto  us,  were  they  to  do 
this,  their  example  would  powerfully  aid,  instead  of  retarding,  the  progress 
of  reformation. 

I  feel  no  hesitation  in  repeating  my  clear  conviction  that  nothing  but  our 
own  unfaithfulness  has  prevented  Discipline  from  being  made  to  wipe  away 
this  great  inconsistency  between  our  profession  and  practice, — neverthe- 
less, it  may  not  be  right  to  have  that  Discipline  made,  until  we  become 
more  generally  faithful ;  lest  we  be  like  another  religious  body,  who  some 
time  since  made  a  rule  to  prevent  their  members  from  keeping  slaves,  and 
through  weakness  had  to  rescind  it.* 

The  path  of  simple  obedience  to  what  we  know  to  be  right  would  lead 
through  all  our  difficulties.  May  we  patiently  travel  in  it,  and  if  we 
possess  any  "  powers  of  reasoning,"  on  subjects  "  abstruse"  or  plain,  yield 
these,  and  every  other  gift,  to  the  service  of  Him,  who  only  can  make  them 
conduce  to  His  glory,  to  our  good,  and  to  the  good  of  our  fellow-creatures. 

Farewell !  whenever  it  appears  right,  use  as  great  freedom  as  I  have 
done,  and  with  one  hint  more  I  will  close  my  letter. 

The  armour  with  which  thou  art  sometimes  clothed,  is  too  excellent  to 
be  used  in  any  warfare  that  is  not  perfectly  just. 

Thy  assured  Friend, 
C.  M. 

LETTER    II. 

7th  Mo.  12th,  1824. 

My  much  valued  Friend,— Some  parts  of  thy  letter  of  5th  Mo.  29th,  I 
fear,  I  am  not  in  a  capacity  fully  to  understand,  and  some  other  parts  have 
a  good  deal  surprised  me. 

Thou  sayest,  "if  the  mode  thou  proposes!  of  doing  a  way  iniquity  among 
men,  and  advancing  righteousness  in  the  earth,  as  respects  the  deeply-dyed 
sin  of  oppression  exercised  on  one  part  of  the  human  family  by  another, 
could  be  so  illustrated  to  my  mind,  as  to  appear  like  effectually  pleading 
their  cause,  or  laying  a  foundation  for  their  emancipation,  or  even  doing 
any  thing  for  them,  I  believe  I  could  fully  accord  with  thy  views,"  and 
adds,  "  but  so  it  is  not  with  me." 

As  respects  advancing  righteoxisness  in  the  earth  this  is  the  sole 
prerogative  of  Him  who  sitteth  as  a  refiner  with  fire,  to  redeem  and  to 
purify,  and  in  this  sense  is  altogether  internal;  but  to  abstain  from  wrong 
things  is  always  safe  whether  we  are  willing  to  yield  to  theoperation  of 
this  fire  or  not,  it  is,  however,  perhaps,  the  best  outward  evidence  that  can 
be  given  of  having  yielded  to  it.  But,  how  a  mind  like  thine  can  avoid 
seeing  the  relation  that  exists  between  the  principal  and  the  agent  em- 
ployed, is  to  me  surprising. 

Do  we  not  know  that  slavery  is  solely  supported  by  the  consumers  of 
the  articles  raised  by  the  labour  of  slaves?  Obtained,  too,  in  a  manner 
that  has  been  unanimously  protested  against  by  our  Society,  as  most 
iniquitous.  On  what  principle  is  it,  we  decline  purchasing  articles  cap- 
tured in  war  ? 

*  The  Methodists  southward. 


15 

Do  we  expect  to  "coerce"  nations  into  peace  ?  Vain  attempt !  is  it  not 
rather  that  we  may  wash  our  own  hands  in  innocency,  from  the  blood  of 
our  fellow-men,  and  as  a  testimony  against  the  injustice  of  using  property 
that  has  been  wrested  from  the  rightful  owners  by  violence?  Such  "coer- 
cion" John  Woolman  used  towards  the  slave-holder.  Just  such  the  Chris- 
tian must  forever  use  when,  he  withdraws  his  countenance  and  support 
from  crime. 

Thou  sayest,  "John  Woolman's  testimony  against  the  use  of  those  arti- 
cles was  needed  in  his  day,  to  aid  in  convincing  the  world  of  an  evil  which 
in  that  day  was  not  generally  viewed  to  be  such ;  but  that  civilized  nations 
stand  but  little  in  need  of  a  similar  testimony,  (for  a  similar  end,)  when  by 
the  general  consent  of  nations  the  practice  is  reprobated."  But  is  the  evil 
remedied?  If  not,  the  facts  here  stated  draw  me  to  a  very  different  con- 
clusion. When  the  evil  was  not  seen,  could  it  be  expected  we  should 
decline  supporting  it  ?  Continuing  that  support  was  then  only  the  crime 
of  ignorance,  yet  when  it  is  seen  and  reprobated,  and  with  the  fullest 
knowledge  persisted  m,  is  it  a  time  to  call  this  striking  at  the  very  root  of 
the  evil  a  minor  testimony  that  must  "decrease"  and  we  again  afford  the 
enormity  our  full  practical  support? 

But  it  seems  thy  hopes  of  severing  the  bonds  of  this  people  are  turned  to 
the  princes  and  rulers  of  the  earth,  as  instruments,  whose  hearts  are  to  be 
inclined  by  the  Great  unseen  and  unacknowledged  hand,  to  commiserate 
their  sufferings!  What  do  I  see?^A  sensibility  that  shrinks  from  the 
coercion  of  declining  to  feed  the  cruel  avarice  and  licentious  extravagance 
of  the  oppressor,  in  which  case,  if  general,  the  poor  blacks  would,  of  ne- 
cessity, be  permitted  to  raise  their  own  food,  (which  a  small  proportion  of 
their  present  toil,  so  directed,  would  enable  them  to  do.)  thus  blessing  both, 
and  clearing,  at  the  same,  our  hands  from  the  dark  stains  of  participation 
that  now  discolour  them.  A  sensibility  like  this,  that  can  yet  turn  to  those 
of  whom  it  was  said,  "  I  have  clothed  thee  with  strength  though  thou  hast 
not  known  me,"  and  leave  the  work  for  them  to  do,  by  the  sword  ! 

It  is  to  prevent  scenes  of  outrage,  and  mutual  slaughter,  that  the  visita- 
tions of  Divine  love  would  enable  the  Christian  traveller  to  plead  with  the 
oppressor,  even  in  silence,  by  the  language  of  an  example  at  once  mild, 
and  powerfully  persuasive. 

Thou  supposes!  an  inconsistency  in  our  purchasing  articles  from  Hayti, 
and  term  the  inhabitants  "a  band  of  murderers,  whose  possessions  are  still 
reeking  with  the  blood  of  their  (in  many  instances)  rightful  owners." 
This  appears  to  me  to  be  a  strong  figure  of  speech,  when  applied  to  a  nation 
that  for  more  than  20  (now  30)  years  have  enjoyed  almost  uninterrupted 
peace  and  tranquillity,  while  the  inhabitantsof  other  lands,  deemed  polish- 
ed and  civilized,  have  been  embrumg  their  hands  in  each  other's  blood,  on 
questions  that  sink  into  nothing,  when  compared  with  the  wrongs  of  the 
people  of  that  island.  Were  acts  like  these  of  former  days,  sufficient 
ground  on  which  to  exclude  commercial  intercourse,  our  transactions  with 
all  Europe  would  be  at  once  closed. 

I  believe  with  thee,  that  the  work  of  the  emancipation  of  this  people  is 
on  the  wheel,  and  that  governments  may  yet  be  the  unconscious  instruments 
of  promoting  its  accomplishment,  perhaps  throush  scenes  of  carnage 
dreadful  to  contemplate ;  and  all  this  for  want  of  faithfulness  in  many  who 
had  ''cast  away  their  shield  as  if  it  had  not  been  anointed  with  oil."  In 
thy  former  letter  thou  speakest  of  "liberty  of  conscience" — do  we  apply 
the  term  aright  as  meaning  the  liberty  to  injure  our  fellow-creatures?  Of 
"  our  views  being  carried  beyond  these  outward  things ;"  I  believe  they  are 
often  so  carried,  but  it  would  be  strange  if  any  right  unfoldings  should 
enable  me  to  adopt  the  language  virtually  used  by  our  poor  society  at  the 
present  day,  namely,  we  deeply  feel  for  you,  poor,  injured  descendants  of 
Africa,  and  are  willing  to  plead  your  cause  before  kings  and  rulers,  and  all 
we  ask  in  return  is,  that  some  thousands  of  you  (our  fair  proportion)  should 


16 

continue  to  toil  for  us  from  year  to  year,  your  whole  lives,  and  your  chil- 
dren after  you,  so  long  as  slavery  may  exist,  as  some  compensation  for 
our  sympathy  and  labours  on  your  behalf. 

Various  are  the  gifts  and  stations  in  the  great  family  of  man,  and  the 
great  Parent  offers  to  each  his  proper  place;  but  all  are  alike  called  to  do 
justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly.  And  if  in  seeking  so  to  do,  diffi- 
culties surround  us,  He  whose  compassion  is  over  ali  his  works  will  lend 
his  aid,  becoming  our  all  inall,  redeeming,  from  time  to  time,  from  what 
he  may  successively  (as  we  may  be  able  to  bear  the  discovery)  manifest  to 
be  evil  in  us.  Oh  !  for  the  simple  obedience  of  a  weaned  child  !  How 
would,  then,  every  cloud  that  obscures  our  sight  be  removed.  To  know 
every  action  brought  to  the  light,  and  ourselves  to  walk  in  it,  would  be  our 
greatest  care.  All  reasoning  on  the  effects  of  our  actions  would  cease, 
since  nothing  properly  deemed  evil  can  possibly  flow  from  actions  truly  up- 
right. Yet  I  confess  with  thee,  that  those  who  walk  not  in  the  light,  see 
nothing  clearly,  and  are  very  likely  to  err  in  their  perceptions  of  right 
and  wrong ;  and  is  there  not  greater  danger  of  doing  this  when  things  are 
under  consideration,  that  custom,  and  convenience,  have  strongly  establish- 
ed, than  when  we  are  led  into  a  path  more  untrodden,  and  one  attended 
with  some  privations,  and  many  trials?  I  have  sometimes  regretted  that 
in  clothing  the  views  that  have  attended  my  mind  in  words,  the  power  of 
persuasion  had  not  been  mine.  That,  if  possible,  those  who  have  mouth 
and  utterance  might  be  prevailed  upon  faithfully  to  "  plead  the  cause  of 
the  dumb  appointed  to  destruction."  I  could  entreat,  yea,  beseech  with 
tears.  But  when  I  see  thousands  of  slaves  toiling  from  year  to  year  to 
supply  us  only;  with  no  probable  termination  to  their  sufferings,  but  with 
life,  the  language  seems  continually  sounded  in  my  ears,  "  Is  this  a  time 
for  smooth  things!  is  it  not  rather  a  time  for  regret,  lamentation,  and 
alarm  ?  Arise  !  and  search  the  camp !"  The  hidden  things  of  Esau  ! ! 

Well ;  "  He  whose  ear  is  open  to  the  cries  of  his  afflicted  ones,  is  doing  his 
own  work,  and  will  yet  redress  their  wrongs,  peacefully  if  we  permit  him 
to  rule  in  our  hearts — in  judgments  if  we  refuse,  for  His  right  to  govern 
all  that  he  has  formed  can  never  be  relinquished." 

Of  the  largest  and  most  valuable  portion  of  thy  letter  I  have  said  noth- 
ing, but  have  been  pretty  strongly  reminded  of  "the  precious  ointment  of 
the  apothecary,"  and  after  seeking  to  gather  out  the  "  dead  flies"  a  good 
deal  remains  to  be  preserved  for  use. 

The  door  is  open  for  future  communication,  for  thy  letters  have  not  les- 
sened the  love  and  union  of  feeling  on  the  great  point,  in  which  I  have,  ever 
since  our  acquaintance  commenced,  been  thy  assured,  and  affectionate 
friend,  C.  M. 

LETTER     III. 

llth  Mo.  20th,  1824. 

My  dear  Friend, — Previous  to  receiving  thy  letter  of  the  16th  of  ninth 
month  last,  I  had  not  felt  quite  clear  respecfng  the  subject  of  our  former 
correspondence,  but  hope  this  letter  will  enable  me  to  be  so. 

Perhaps  the  apparent  difference  in  our  views  consists  more  in  misunder- 
standing each  other,  than  in  the  thing  itself.  An  apprehension  has  im- 
pressed my  mind  that  neither  of  us  have  put  the  best  possible  construction 
on  each  other's  expressions. 

When  mentioning  a  fear  that  I  was  not  in  a  capacity  fully  to  understand 
some  part  of  one  of  thy  letters.  I  sincerely  believed  that  the  fault  was  in 
myself,  for  having  travelled  less  diligently  the  path  of  dedication  than  the 
friend  I  was  addressing  •,  but  this  circumstance  made  me  more  desirous  that 
the  ground  and  foundation  of  this  concern  might  beopenedarightin  his  view. 

My  friend  asks  why  I  evade  the  charge  of  inconsistency  he  has  made 
against  us  for  trading  freely  with  the  inhabitants  of  Hayti,  whom  he  terms, 
a  "  band  of  murderers,  &c."  I  thought  I  had  fairly  and  fully  met  that 
charge.  Were  we  to  admit  the  grounds  there  taken,  all  intercourse  be- 


17 

tween  thyself  and  me,  a"s  well  as  between  us  and  all  the  nations  on  earth 
would  of  necessity  cease — for  has  not  all  been  wrested  by  violence  at  some 
period  from  the  rightful  owners?  But  there  appears  to  me  lo  be  a  great 
difference  between  acts  of  former  days,  which  we  are  neither  "  called  upon, 
nor  capacitated  to  remedy,"  and  those  that  are  now  transacted,  in  which  we 
are  invited  to  participate.  I  did  indeed  consider  the  language  of  thy  letter 
when  applied  to  that  nation,  as  not  only  "  a  strong  figure  of  speech,"  but  too 
strong  for  the  truth  to  justify.  Where,  among  a  barbarous  people,  have  such 
rapid  advances  in  civilization  and  order,  ever  before  taken  place?  And 
where,  in  the  annals  of  nations,  can  be  found  a  greater  instance  of  mag- 
nanimity, than  their  recent  offer  of  twenty  millions  of  dollars  to  be  paid  the 
former  owners  of  the  soil,  on  the  simple  terms  of  acknowledging  their  in- 
dependence. 

Thou  enumerates  a  long  list  of  oppressions  under  which  creation  groans, 
and  asks,  "  from  which  of  these  shall  we  wholly  withdraw,  as  an  accept- 
able sacrifice  and  atonement  to  God  for  remotely  continuing  our  support 
to  the  others?"  Again,  allow  me  to  express  my  surprise  that  we  should 
see  things  so  differently. 

So  far  from  viewing  the  withdrawing  from  one  evil  as  sanctioning  our 
indulgence  in  the  others,  such  a  step  appears  to  me  to  tend  powerfully  to- 
wards subjecting  the  remainder !  Far  be  it  from  me  to  wish  to  turn  the 
eyes  of  any  to  evils,  which  "  they  are  neither  called  upon  nor  capacitated 
to  remedy,  so  as  to  prevent  them  from  beholding  those  which  are  nearer 
their  own  borders !"  Our  whole  duty  is  at  home.  The  revealed  will  of 
the  arbiter  of  nations  must  forever  remain  to  be  the  standard  of  the  ac- 
countability of  his  creature  man. 

But  is  there  no  truth  in  the  axiom,  "  what  we  do  by  another  we  do  our- 
selves?" While  all  the  world  acknowledge,  that,  as  respects  the  manufac- 
tures and  products  of  the  earth  raised  by  the  labour  of  whites,  the  consumer 
who  pays  his  money  for  the  article  is  the  great  supporter,  why  do  we  not 
admit  the  same  truth  as  respects  the  blacks.  Is  there  one  standard  of  mo- 
rality for  white  men  and  another  for  negroes  ? 

I  see  not  the  danger  thou  imagines  of  "establishing  a  too  high  standard 
of  morality,"  the  only  true  one,  so  far  from  admitting  us  to  injure  our 
neighbour,  prevents  us,  while  obedient  to  its  requisitions,  from  doing  it 
even  in  thought;  can  it  be  carried  higher?  thou  speakest  of  contaminated 
articles ;  "  I  have  never  supposed  that  .the  articles  themselves  were  any 
more  contaminated  than  articles  captured  in  war,  or  otherwise  dishonestly 
obtained.  They  are  good,  and  intended  for  the  use  of  man,  but  let  him  ob- 
tain them  equitably." 

I  acknowledge  with  sincere  regret  the  truth  of  thy  remarks  on  the  pro- 
gress of  this  testimony,  its  rise  and  decline.*  It  had,  indeed,  atone  time, 
nearly  shared  the  fate  of  many  other  reformations  in  the  world,  and  from 
the  same  cause.  Weary  of  self-denial,  we  seek  an  easier  path,  and  seize 
on  the  examples  of  others  as  pleas  for  our  own  dereliction  of  principle. 
Nevertheless,  I  do  believe  that  this  testimony  will  never  fall  to  the  ground 
but  with  the  evil  itself,  being  persuaded  that  many  upright  minds  are  be- 
coming more  and  more  convinced  that  the  concern  is  of  the  Lord,  and  that 
the  reason  why  it  makes  such  slow  progress  in  the  world,  is  because  some 
of  his  own  dear  children  oppose  it!  With  thy  closing  remarks  on  disci- 
pline, I  can  pretty  fully  unite,  and  have  no  wish  that  a  rule  be  made  on 
this  subject,  until  the  great  body  of  Friends  can  unite  in  supporting  it. 
But  as  a  larger  proportion  of  them  are  convinced  of  the  rectitude  of  this 
step,  than  at  one  time  disapproved  of  Friends  themselves  keeping  slaves, 
it  would  be  wrong  to  suffer  desponding  feelings  to  weaken  us. 

Thou  hast  pointed  out  one  of  the  hidden  snares,  in  asking  whether  there 
may  not  be  a  secret  self-gratifying  feeling  in  treading  some  of  those  "more 
untrodden  paths?"  The  danger  is  confessed.,  but  I  know  my  friend ,he 

*  A  considerable  advancement,  it  is  believed,  has  taken  place  since  the  date  of  this  letter. 


18 

will  not  wish  to  stamp  that  peace  which  is  the  sweet  reward  of  walking  up- 
rightly with  the  name  of  self-righteousness ;  neither  will  he  wish  that  any 
should  transgress  the  divine  law  to  avoid  the  danger  of  self-complacency ; 
rather,  when  such  feelings  arise,  let  us  enter  into  the  school  of  Christ, 
where  every  thing  of  that  nature  will  sink  before  abasement  of  self,  in  a 
sense  of  what  wo  are. 

There  is  one  view  that  I  think  will  bring  this  subject  fully  and  finally  to 
a  close.  The  great  aim  of  all  thy  letters  seems  to  be,  to  vindicate  the  right 
of  sovereignty  of  Him  with  whom  we  have  to  do.  This  position  is  indeed 
strong,  it  is  invulnerable!  Let  us  then  unite  in  it,  nor  ever  more  advance 
our  money  in  support  of  this  cruel  business  until  we  find  it  to  be  our  duty, 
our  clearly  manifested  incumbent  duty,  so  to  do.  Thy  friend  affection- 
ately. C.  M. 
Closing1  Remarks. 

In  contemplating  the  present  state  of  this  concern  within  our  borders, 
it  is  encouraging  to  observe  that  considerable  advancement  in  individual 
faithfulness  has  taken  place  of  late.  And  the  following  appendix  will  shew 
the  progress  we  have  recently  made  in  it  in  a  collective  capacity. 

It  now  appears  to  be  an  obvious  and  important  truth  that  the  time  is 
near  at  hand,  when  our  religious  Society,  will  either  have  to  follow  up  its 
repeated  recommendations  on  this  subject,  or  adopt  the  only  other  alterna- 
tive of  altogether  giving  up  its  testimony  against  slavery. 

Light  has  been  too  widely  diffused  to  allow  us  ever  to  convince  the  world 
of  the  consistency  of  mir  professions  against  this  evil,  while  we  continue 
to  pay  thousands,  and  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars  annually,  to  enable  the 
slave-holders  to  perpetuate  it. 


APPENDIX. 

Extracts  from  the  minutes  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  New- York,  on  the 
subject  of  slavery,  and  of  declining  the  use  of  the  products  of  slave 
labour. 

1832.  "The  feelings  of  many  Friends  have  been  tenderly  awakened  on 
behalf  of  the  oppressed  descendants  of  Africa,  and  a  lively  concern  wit- 
nessed, that  our  testimony  on  their  account   may  still   advance.     And 
Friends  are  earnestly  entreated  to  be  faithful  to  the  convictions  upon  their 
own  minds  in  the  light  of  truth,  in  regard  to  abstaining  from  or  dealing 
in,  the  produce  of  the  labour  of  that  oppressed  people." 

1833.  "The  Committee  to  take  under  their  consideration  the  subject  in 
relation  to  the  produce  of  the  labour  of  slaves,  and  the  condition  of  the 
free  people  of  colour,  made  the  following  report,  which  on  claiming  the  at- 
tention of  the  meeti.ig  was  united  with,  and  is  directed  to  be  transmitted 
toour  subordinate  meetings  in  the  extracts  from  the  minutes  of  this  meeting. 

"In  deliberating  on  the  subject  of  our  appointment,  the  Committee  were 
introduced  into  a  feeling,  harmonious  labour  that  our  testimony  against  sla- 
very might  not,  only  be  maintained,  but  advanced  in  the  progressive  open- 
ings of  light;  and  strong  desires  were  felt,  that  Friends  might  watchfully 
attend  to  its  further  discoveries. 

"The  Committee  were  united  in  believing,  that  to  decline  the  use  of  the 
products  of  slave  labour  would  be  a  consistent  and  dignified  testimony, 
whereby  we  might  silently,  yet  powerfully  plead  the  cause  of  this  people. 
We  have  believed  that  it  would  be  right  that  the  subject  be  recommended 
down  for  the  solid  consideration  of  Friends." 

1834.  "  The  long  continued  exercise  of  our  Society,  on  the  subject  of 
the  slavery  of  our  suffering  brethren  of  the  African  race,  we  trust,  is  deep- 
ening in  the  root,  and  will  yet  work  more  and  more  powerfully  in  the 
minds  of  Friends,  as  they  yield  to  the  tendering  visitations  of  Divine  love." 


2385 


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